Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has defended former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi against underperformance accusations during his ministry tenure.

Speaking during 100th-anniversary celebrations and thanksgiving service at MCK Church Mikumbune, Meru County on Sunday, September 1, 2024, Gachagua termed Linturi’s exit from the government as unfortunate.

“We worked very well with CS Linturi. Linturi is our great son. I want to say as the deputy president, Linturi performed beyond expectations. He just got caught up in this reorganisation because of the political dynamics of the country, but it is not because Linturi failed to perform,” Gachagua stated.

“I worked with him with the President and Linturi, our son, worked as expected.”

In his message to Linturi, Gachagua encouraged him to keep hoping for a second chance.

“There is always a God of a second chance. When God closes one door, he opens another. We are praying for you, we wish you well and I want as you walk around in Meru, walk with your head tall. Do not feel like you did anything wrong. It’s only that the dynamics went beyond our control despite your very excellent performance in the cabinet. Relax, there is a god in heaven,” Gachagua added.

Linturi exits cabinet

Linturi exited the cabinet in July after President William Ruto disbanded his cabinet and appointed a new one, replacing Linturi with Andrew Mwihia Karanja in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The former CS exited the cabinet at the height of the fake fertiliser scandal, in which farmers countrywide were sold fake fertiliser.

Linturi was kicked out of the cabinet alongside 13 other cabinet secretaries including;

1. Njuguna Ndung’u – National Treasury and Planning

2. Aisha Jumwa – Gender, Culture, the Arts

3. Moses Kuria – Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management

4. Zachariah Njeru – Water, Sanitation and Irrigation

5. Peninah Malonza – East African Community, the ASALs and Regional Development

6. Ezekiel Machogu – Education

9. Ababu Namwamba – Youth Affairs and Sports

10. Simon Chelugui – Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development

11. Florence Bore – Labour and Social Protection

12. Eliud Owalo – Information, Communications and the Digital Economy

13. Susan Nakhumicha – Health